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Daily Digest – Saturday, Nov. 12 – Occupy the Banks

Saturday, November 12, 2011 11:24

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The Official Site of the #OccupyCleveland Movement

Call to Action RE Info Tent * Word from Occupy RTA * Today’s (Saturday’s) Events – Cleveland Occupies the Banks * Word from Egypt: Defend the Revolution * Friday GA CONSENSUS Items: Relocation of Nov. 14 General Assembly, Walking Signs and Solidarity with Veterans * Call for Help with Winter Occupation Quarters, Volunteers and Food * Call for Help to Stop Garbage Incinerator * Calls to Action: Please call police, Cities for Occupy Youngstown, Occupy Honolulu, Occupy St. Louis, and Occupy Berkeley * Call to Recycle * Fresh Facilitators Wanted * Meetings / WAGs * Call for Supplies * Upcoming Events of Note * Noon Teach-in Schedule * Current Haves and Needs * More Reading / Links * Call for Information

Weekend Schedule: Today’s Events; 3PM GA (General Assembly); 8-10 PM Entertainment; 10 PM-2 AM Night Shift #1; 2-6 AM Night Shift #2; Upcoming Events; Stuff happens continuously in the NW Quadrant of Public Square 24/7.

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Friday’s GA Notes

Call to Action RE Info Tent

Yesterday morning some people who are police officers came by the info tent and asked that we roll up parts of the canopy. Please call the Mayor’s Office at (216) 664-3990 to ask that we are able to keep all the sides down as this will help make the area more comfortable for the people sitting under the canopy and it is logical to be able to be comfortable.

Word from Occupy RTA

“Occupy RTA was a success and start of something big. When John and I got on, we didn’t know what to expect. There weren’t a lot of people on. So, we basically had a conversation with a few people, all supportive. During this, I gave something of an impromptu speech. On the train back, we talked to 3 guys in their 20s, all supportive and all somewhat interested in being down this weekend. They feel the concerns we all do. I saw the front car full of people and passed out fliers to all. John followed along and I went back to giving a speech. Just about EVERYONE made eye contact and listened to me. I could feel their anger along with mine and the energy flowed within. The message got out to more people than I had hoped for and people were truly receptive………….. It was one of the best things, and most daring, I have done in my entire life. A month ago, I would have never made conversation with someone on a bus, let along given a political speech while being filmed at 1030 at night. I felt so confident doing it and felt powerful, that I was creating the change we all so desperately need. Oh, I forgot to mention THIS WAS ALL VIDEOTAPED!!!!! Occupy RTA will happen many more times, and with better planning and timing (and more peeps), this has truly limitless potential. Thank you all for the avenue you have given me to be heard, and for the confidence that you have instilled by being supportive of decisions like tonight………………….. ……….Occupy Forever!!!!!”

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“WHERE do we find ourselves? In a series of which we do not know the extremes, and believe that it has none. We wake and find ourselves on a stair; there are stairs below us, which we seem to have ascended; there are stairs above us, many a one, which go upward and out of sight.”

“If any of us knew what we were doing, or where we are going, then when we think we best know! We do not know to-day whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves idolent, we have afterwards discovered, that much was accomplished, and much was begun in us.”

— Emerson, from “Experience”

Please send submissions to occupyclevelandpoetry (_at symbol_) gmail.com.

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Today’s (Saturday’s) Events

In addition to our regularly scheduled weekday events, here are some special events that are happening today! Lots to do! Unless otherwise noted, events are in NW Quadrant (Tom Johnson/Free Speech Quadrant) of Public Square or nearby in the white tent area. More upcoming events after today are here…

Cleveland Occupies the Banks Today, Nov. 12

The Occupy Cleveland movement is coming back to Public Square in a big way this Saturday, November 12th! Be at the Tom Johnson statue (northwest, near the “55″ building) at noon to enjoy performances, crafts, a potluck lunch, great labor and liberation speakers, and a big spirited march through downtown at 3:00. And at 4:00, join in a nonviolent and FUN direct action to Occupy the Banks that have been occupying Cleveland!

Our theme for the day is rebuilding our foreclosed communities. People who want to work hard and play by the rules can’t get jobs, can’t pay their mortgages, and can’t catch a break. That’s because the economic system is rigged against the 99% of Clevelanders who don’t live off trust funds and accumulated wealth. We don’t have all the answers, but the Occupy Cleveland movement keeps raising questions about things that affect ordinary people where they live.

ARTS ALL AFTERNOON:

There will be stencils and supplies to create and decorate “99%” headbands.
Bring your own clothing to stencil and decorate!
OccupyCleveland T-shirt will be awarded for the best “Monopoly guy” costume; we’ll be making some rectangular red and square green houses to match!
NO TENTS. We are building HOUSES to be carried or worn around downtown!

HOW THE DAY GOES:

There will be food, open mic, a theatrical direct action to creatively highlight the foreclosure problem in Cleveland and Ohio in general. Factual information about foreclosures, talking about their own experiences.

11 AM
Possibilitarian Theater Workshop to teach everyone how to turn cardboard boxes into little house costumes.
NOON – Gather at Tom Johnson square to start creating art
1 PM – Speakers TBA
2 PM – Music by Johnathan Blackshire and Loki
3 PM – March to the banks!
We will be wearing and carrying our cardboard houses. If the banks or police ask us to leave, we will be evicted. There will be no tents, just houses.
4 PM – Foreclosure demonstration

WE NEED:

Your participation
Your creativity
Your artistic input and ideas
Art supplies!!!
Spray Paint specifically (for working with stencils)
Paint, Markers, Glitter, Puffy Paint, Duct tape, Cardboard, Safety Pins
Strollers and wheelchairs (we’ll build houses around them – other houses will be carried or worn by people)
Anything else you think would be cool to build art and signs with

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE/ARREST RISK:

This action is designed as a creative way to highlight the issues surrounding foreclosure in our communities. All houses are being created as pieces of art, designed to be mobile–not structural–and will be set up with the intention of moving if we are foreclosed on rather that intentionally creating or escalating high-arrest-risk situations.

WHY YOU SHOULD BE THERE:

If you support the Occupy Cleveland ideals of individual empowerment, economic justice, political freedom, and nonviolence, now is the time. Join us on Public Square, northwest quadrant, this Saturday. The Occupation will be there. Will you be a part of it?

How to get involved:

FIRST, go to our online registration at http://tinyurl.com/ReOccupyCleveland, if you haven’t already, and let us know you’re coming. It’s important!

NEXT, forward this email to your friends, including groups and listservs that accept announcements of this type. (Please, no, don’t go spamming. Not cool.)

ALSO, keep checking the Daily Digest at http://www.occupycleveland.com for updates on our Occupying The Banks event and everything else that’s happening at Occupy Cleveland.

FINALLY, come on down to Public Square on Saturday, enjoy the afternoon, and stick around for the direct action at day’s end. Bring paint! Comfortable clothes! A picnic blanket! And all your positive vibes!

Are you in? Check in right now at http://tinyurl.com/ReOccupyCleveland and join the movement that’s Occupying Cleveland, one block, one mind, one heart at a time.

Communication WAG * 1-3 PM Daily Check-ins
Facilitates communication with reps from each group–check in with John between 1-3 PM in Public Square.

Sat., Nov. 12 @ 10 PM – 2 AM and Sun., Nov. 13 @ 2 AM – 6 AM Evening Shifts
Please sign up at the white tent for an evening shift so that we can maintain effective occupancy overnight and relieve people who are overburdened. Dress extremely warmly with lots of layers and bring appropriate gear to keep yourself warm. As of now we are unclear on the tent situation but this is a possibility soon.

Word from Egypt: Defend the Revolution Nov. 12

Letter from Cairo to Occupy/Decolonize movements and other solidarity movements around the world:

“After three decades of living under a dictatorship, Egyptians started a revolution demanding bread, freedom and social justice. After a nearly utopian occupation of Tahrir Square lasting eighteen days, we rid ourselves of Mubarak and began the second, harder, task of removing his apparatuses of power. Mubarak is gone, but the military regime lives on….

“Since the military junta took power, at least 12,000 of us have been tried by military courts, unable to call witnesses and with limited access to lawyers. Minors are serving in adult prisons, death sentences have been handed down, torture runs rampant. Women demonstrators have been subjected to sexual assault in the form of “virginity tests” by the Army.”

“On October 9th, the Army massacred 28 of us at Maspero; they ran us over with tanks and shot us down in the street while manipulating state media to try and incite sectarian violence. The story has been censored.”

“We are suggesting an International Day to Defend the Egyptian Revolution on Nov 12th under the slogan “Defend the Egyptian Revolution – End Military Trials for Civilians”

http://en.nomiltrials.com/2011/11/call-out-for-solidarity-with-egypt_02.html

Friday GA CONSENSUS Items: Relocation of Nov. 14 General Assembly, Walking Signs and Solidarity with Veterans

Please arrive at the info tent at 5:30 PM to find the location of the GA.

Relocation of GA: http://unju.st/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=896

Walking Signs – http://unju.st/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=896

Call for Help with Winter Occupation Quarters, Volunteers and Food

Currently looking for space between E 30 and W 30 (marching distance to banks and fed are key here) that is accessible 24/7. (Also, should have heat that won’t cost us a fortune). For the most part this means storefronts or office space (maybe in one of than bank buildings so we can occupy the bank?) but if you’ve got another idea that doesn’t look like that don’t let that limit you.

If you know of a space, know someone who might help us out, or just drove by something with a sign outside and feel like calling and checking, we need your help and any information you find.

First Aid needs more volunteers, and Housekeeping and Sanitation need people to help with the tent. We are running out of food and we call for donations.

Call for Help to Stop Garbage Incinerator

We have an environmental justice issue going on here in Cleveland. We have to put the kabash on this insane deal! Some want to burn toxic garbage right near community gardens and tons of schools. Please help stop this whatever way you can!

http://heresanotherreason.tumblr.com/

Calls to Action: Please call Police, Cities for Occupy Youngstown, Occupy Honolulu, Occupy St. Louis, and Occupy Berkeley

This in from Occupy Youngstown:

Occupy Youngstown is in danger. The YPD (by the Mayor’s command) said we now have to have everything gone by midnight tonight! I posted more info on twitter! @OccupyYoungstow (no N at the end). Please call up for support to leave the site alone! Police Dept. #: 330.742.8926. http://www.facebook.com/occupyytown2011

Editor’s note: I checked the Facebook page and it appears that the police have not shut down OY.

This in from Occupy Honolulu:

So the city will not give us a permit to remain in Thomas Square Park past 10pm. Please call to request that the parks department grant an exception to their permit rule to Occupy Honolulu, to allow us to remain in the grassy area adjacent to the sidewalk during park closure hours.

Parks Department Permit Office: 808.768.3440
Park Coordinator: 808.592.2288
Fax: 808.768.3053
Mayor’s office: 808.768.4381

St. Louis:

Occupy St Louis has been served with eviction today papers Nov. 10. Our out time is 3 pm Friday.We will start live streaming around 2 pm if not sooner.Thanks, SOLIDARITY. Police Dept. #: 314-231-1212

Berkeley:

Unfortunately there was a little bit of violence on the part of Berkely Police Thursday Nov. 10. It was captured on YouTube: http://youtu.be/buovLQ9qyWQ. Police were captured on camera jabbing and beating students. Please call the Alameda Sheriff’s Department at (510) 642-6760 and politely ask for the Police and the City to tolerate the movement peacefully. You can also leave a comment on Berkeley PD’s Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/UCPDCal.

Call to Recycle

Please make sure to be conscientious about recycling in the Occupy area. There’s a recycling bin under one of the tables in the tent.

Fresh Facilitators Wanted

The facilitation group has asked for fresh people to do the facilitation process. Here’s a training video put out by Occupy Wall Street: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfTf2db6YfI. Interested parties can get in touch with the Facilitation workgroup as well.

Regular Meetings / WAGs*

WAGS are located in the northwest quadrant of Public Square by the Tom Johnson statue or in the white tent adjacent to the quadrant unless otherwise noted, and all are welcome to come and participate! Please send your meeting/WAG info to occupyclevelandstories (_at symbol_) gmail.com so that it can be listed here.

Community Outreach WAG
Mtg. Sun. Nov. 13 @ 1 PM * Alternating Saturdays and Sundays * PLEASE NOTE CHANGED MEETING VENUE
Coordination with groups to help grow the movement. We are meeting in the NW Quadrant (Tom Johnson Quadrant) of Public Square (moved from Cafe Ah-Roma). 11/5 meeting notes. Outreach email: occupyclevelandoutreach (_at symbol_) gmail.com.

Occupation WAG * Tuesdays and Thursdays after 6 PM GA
Coordination and research of physical occupation

Direct Action WAG * Every Weekday @ at 2 PM; Main Meeting on Sundays
Coordination of Direct Action communication and initiatives. Wed., Nov. 2 Mtg Notes .

Communication WAG * 1-3 PM Daily Check-ins
Facilitates communication with reps from each group–check in with John between 1-3 PM in Public Square–phone coming.

Foreclosure and Bank Action WAG – Video/Phone Conf * 8 PM Mondays
Concerns ways to brainstorm to change the situation with banks such that banks are held accountable for foreclosure impact on community

Education WAG * Next Mtg. TBA
Coordination of Education / Teach-ins / Scheduling. occupyclevelanded (_at symbol) gmail.com. Meeting Notes from 10/30 on Ed Forum (unju.st/forum)

Theater Subgroup of Arts and Culture WAG * Next Mtg. TBA
Collaborative Theater Meeting
This particular meeting pertains to theater event(s) and other creative actions. We are planning a major creative event in November and we invite poets, artists, singers, musicians, dancers, theater people and anyone interested in participating to come to this planning event Wednesday, which will also be a group collaborative event that will be fun. More details below. occupyclevelandtheater (_at symbol) gmail.com

First Aid/Housekeeping/Sanitation WAG * Next Mtg. TBA

* WAG: Working/Affinity Group

Check the forums for more info on working groups. There are probably working group meetings that are happening that are not on the above list. Here are some known working groups: Outreach * Phone & Q&A * Arts & Culture * Spirituality * Food * Mission/Vision * Legal * Peacekeeping * Entertainment * First Aid * Sanitation * Nightwatch * Direct Action * Facilitators * Finance * Tech * Logistics * Transportation * Permanent Occupation Base

Upcoming Events

Events are in the NW Quadrant (Tom Johnson Quadrant) of Public Square unless otherwise noted.

Sun., Nov 13 starting at 12 NOON
12 PM – March leaves from Tom Johnson (Public Square)
1 PM- March ends at the Muni lot (Browns Stadium) where we will Tailgate with the 99%, talking to people, handing out fliers and having some teach-ins.
3 PM – GA at the Muni lot (sign will be left with Tom Johnson and info with the tent occupiers to direct anyone who doesn’t hear about it before then.

Tuesday, Nov. 15 @ 12 NOON – 2 PM
City Club of Cleveland Forum with Sherine Hafez-”Taking Back the Streets: Women’s Activism and the Egyptian Uprising”

http://newperspectivesatideastream-zvents.eventbrite.com/

Wednesday, Nov. 16 @ 8 PM – 10 PM and recurring every Wednesday
Community Drum Circle
Bring your drum to the NW Quadrant (“Tom Johnson Quadrant”) of Public Square Wednesdays at 8.

Fri., November 18 @ 6 PM
Occupy the Hood “Foreclosure Focus!” Workshop
11239 Superior Ave.

Fri., November 25
Benefit concert for #OccupyCleveland at Phantasy Nightclub in Lakewood

November Date-time Continuum Slot/Event Name TBD
Theater production(s) RE pertinent topics

Noon Teach-in Schedule

- No noon teach-ins scheduled -

Teach-ins take place on weekdays, noon to 1 PM at the white tent west of the Northwest Quadrant of Public Square or by the statue in the square, depending on space and the number of people participating. Suggestion: bring yoga mat or other comfortable material for sitting and learning, and dress appropriately for the weather. If you have scheduled a teach-in and it conflicts with one of the teach-ins below, please contact occupyclevelanded (_at symbol_) gmail.com so we can fix the situation.

Suggestion: if no moderator present, please get comfortable, sit down, form a circle and each speak for a couple minutes around the circle, offering information that will help society, with as many rounds around the circle as wanted. Please be considerate and let each speak for a couple minutes.

Interested in scheduling your teach-in? Please contact occupyclevelanded (_at symbol_) gmail.com.

Current haves and needs

Persistence, peace, rationality, health, equality, empathy, self-critique, civic support, solidarity, idealism, courage, listening, dialogue, mentoring, participation, calmness, respect, compassion for one another, outreach, ethical banks, small business loans from banks, energy, focus, kindness, wholeness, tolerance, participation, dialogue, listening, patience, kindness, global tribal ethic, fostering leadership in young adults, restoring reverence to older adults, community, focus, patience, lots of love, pride, humility, moving forward, reaching out.

Practically speaking: overnight occupiers to work in shifts in our overnight area–sign up at the tent, particularly the 2 AM – 6 AM shift, water (particularly hot water), very large thermos for hot water, more computer equipment and luxurious hot food made as ethically as you can conveniently or inconveniently muster–especially in the morning when people are cold–and donations.

Recurring Info

Weekday Schedule: 12 Noon Teach-in; 3 PM March; 6-7 PM GA; 7 PM Community Chat; 8-10 PM Entertainment; 10 PM-2 AM Night Shift #1; 2-6 AM Night Shift #2; Today’s Events; Upcoming Events; Stuff happens continuously in the NW Quadrant of Public Square 24/7

Weekend Schedule: 3PM GA (General Assembly); 8-10 PM Entertainment; 10 PM-2 AM Night Shift #1; 2-6 AM Night Shift #2; Today’s Events; Upcoming Events; Stuff happens continuously in the NW Quadrant of Public Square 24/7.

Info Tent #: (216) 202-4999 | Phone Rules

Call for Information

Dear Readers/Occupiers:

I cannot post very accurate information in this Digest unless I can actually obtain the information. My family depends on my being able to work so I cannot do both the Digest and attend the GAs to find out what happens–it’s either/or. Please post GA notes daily in the forum “General Assembly” here: http://unju.st/forum/. Notekeepers have not been posting notes after every GA, but it is vital to post these notes for the larger Occupy community so that we know what items are being consented to and what events are consensus events. Thank you to those who have been posting notes at times!

People who are planning events and work groups–please email these events to occupyclevelandstories (_at symbol_) gmail.com so I can post them rather than having dig and dig every morning through the forums and multiple facebook pages to find these items.

Peace,

The Temporary Editor

What Would You Like to See?

Please mail letters to the editor, story ideas, meeting times, articles, etc. to occupyclevelandstories (_at symbol_) gmail.com. Also, the Daily Digest is having a working group meeting Sunday, 10/30 at noon in the Tom Johnson (NW) quadrant of Public Square. If not right in the quadrant, please check the white tent west of the square.

Call for Poetry/Creative Writing/Art Submissions – we’re looking for poetry seeds from the larger poetry community, again, a great outreach action. We’re putting together an Occupy Cleveland poetry zine and I’d like to feature some creative items in the Daily Digest as well. Please send submissions to occupyclevelandpoetry (_at symbol_) gmail.com.

Thank you to all people who are making information available!

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